Meet the heroes of Tales of Berseria | FEATURE

The wait is nearly over, ‘Tales of’ fans! The eagerly anticipated release of Bandai Namco’s Tales of Berseria is finally upon us with the game launching on January 24th 2017 in North America and Janaury 27th 2017 in Europe.

Fans will finally be able to get battling in the series’ trademark LMBS (that’s ‘Linear Motion Battle System), be caught up in what are often hilarious conversations in the plethora of Skits that enhance the tale, and most importantly get to explore another beautiful world that’s full of colour and life as a story full of trials and tribulations unfolds around them.

Tales of Berseria also seems like it’s going to be one of the darkest ‘Tales of’ games yet, with a story that’s filled with betrayal and anger:

“In Tales of Berseria, players embark on a journey of self-discovery as they assume the role of Velvet, a young woman whose once kind demeanor has been replaced and overcome with a festering anger and hatred after a traumatic experience three years prior to the events within Tales of Berseria.

The game will explore the confrontation between Velvet and her strong emotions, and those who forego emotion and stick with reason. The immense power in her left hand is not only key to the storyline but symbolizes her fury!”

It’s quite a change for a series that despite always offering an emotional tale, has always felt a bit more light-hearted compared to other JRPGs on the market. It’s also the first time in the series where a game has just a single female lead, with main character Velvet leading the group this time around.

What better way to prepare for the game than by meeting each of the six characters you’ll battle with throughout the epic adventure? The ‘Tales of’ games have always prided themselves on a rich cast of characters and Tales of Berseria seems like it’s going to be no different with another excellent ensemble of warriors to battle with. Read on to get an introduction to each main party member and their special ‘Break Soul’ (a new feature of the battle system where a special action gives a player an advantage in battle and enables them to exceed the upper limit of performable artes per combo) ability.

“She used to be unpretentious and so companionable and have rich sensibilities and love for her family.

However, the incident three years ago changed her radically. She barely smiles but she has fury and hatred in her heart instead. Velvet, who happened to suppress her true kindness and feed rage, is becoming the existence that shakes the world…

Her left hand is wrapped in bandage is it had transformed by the mysterious power that swallowed her on the day of the event. This left hand wields the extraordinary power like daemons, but it seems her left hand has a different ability from the one that daemons usually have.”

Break Soul: Consuming Claw

“By eating an enemy’s ability using the power of her mutated left hand, Velvet can be enhanced and become “Therionized”. While in this state, if she can meet a certain condition, she can execute a special arte that changes depending on the type of enemy you’re up against.

If the enemy is a Beast, ”Scarlet Edge” is the special arte. Strengthened effect: The stronger attack power the enemy has, the bigger damage she can deal.

If the enemy is Amorphous, “Thunder Blitz” is the special arte. Strengthened effect: The higher defense the enemy has, the bigger damage she can deal.

In return for this enhanced ability, her HP decreases gradually, but the less HP she has, the stronger her special arte can be. Thus she can make the best use of her special arte if you can fight cleverly.”

Laphicet

Gender: MaleAge: 10 years oldHeight: 142cmWeapon: PaperTribe: Malak

“When he was born, he was exploited as just a tool that can wield artes without even being given a name. He didn’t know how to live without his master’s orders, didn’t have a mind of his own and was emotionless.

At first, his behavior without his own ideas made Velvet irritated but as he learned various things through travelling with her, he grows to develop a mind of his own. His existence gradually becomes an anchor for Velvet to keep moving forward with anger inside her…”

Break Soul: Divide Pain

“When he executes “Divide Pain”, Laphicet can create a field that decreases enemy damage by half for five seconds. When the effect of this field ends, the HP of all characters is restored. This field also has an attack effect. If he can hit a guarding enemy, he can break the enemy’s guard.

His ability comes in very handy when your party is in a pinch! For example if they’re surrounded or fighting with much stronger foes.”

“Eleanor belongs to “Abbey”, the organization of exorcists. She always scrambles as a praetor to release the world from the threat of daemons. She is so sober that she does not forget to have compassion for the others and she also has a stubborn aspect to always do right things in the right way. She is honest and easily exposes her emotion but she recognizes her inexperience and tries hard to stick to ruthless “reason”.

As an exorcist protecting the world from daemons, she fights against Velvet for her attacks on Abbey.

She is usually kind and doesn’t forget to have compassion for the others. As an exorcist, she makes efforts not only to fight against daemons but also to listen to people and to help them.”

Break Soul: Aerial Strike

“Eleanor can launch an enemy into the air with a spear and keep her combo against the falling enemy.

Her action is simple and easy to use. It is easy to include this in the combo and also it is easy to use to achieve Guard Break.

When she learns more abilities, she become able to do a following up attack in the air.”

“Rokurou is a young swordsman with a cheerful, pleasant and freewheeling personality. He adopts a natural attitude towards Velvet who moves forward with her intense emotion. He experienced an onset of Damonblight a few years ago and became a daemon. However he keeps moving his way to take advantage of that power to master his family’s swordplay style without giving up his hope. He seems to stay rational even though he is a daemon. He takes good care of people and supports Velvet who charges ahead and takes care of Laphicet who has no his own idea.

He attaches his mind to the huge sword on his back and call it “his life” but he consistently refuses to draw that sword. Thus he usually fight with dual short blades.

A certain event leads Rokurou to accompany Velvet to return the favour. He says he is a man of duty, but on the other hand, he always refuses to draw the huge sword on his back for some reason. It seems he takes good care of people and he often supports Velvet who charges ahead.

Rokurou also cares about Laphicet before he gets his own idea. He tells Velvet to improve her attitude towards Laphicet, which shows his nurturing side.”

Break Soul: Retribution

“When Rokurou is struck by an enemy’s attack, he can invoke a strong counter arte. This is a difficult action to perform but the effect is very strong and when it succeeds it heals his HP. This is especially effective against enemies that over swing to attack. But if you can master it, Rokurou can take on pretty much any enemy! If his counter succeeds, he can execute the counter arte “Vengeful Strike”. If he executes Break Soul effectively when being surrounded by enemies, his counter can hit the enemies around him.”

Magilou

Gender: FemaleAge: UnknownHeight: 160cmWeapon: GuardianTribe: Human

“Magilou is a mysterious woman who introduces herself as a “great sorceress” and “Head of Menagerie”, even though their reputation is for “unlicensed witchcraft”.

She is easy going and rather reckless at times. Extroverted and chatty, Magilou could break the ice in any party conversation, but there’s something sinister about her: something in the heartless things she says to Velvet, and the callous phrases she can sometimes spout, that hint at an evil edge befitting the title “witch”.

Magilou’s chatty demeanour hides veiled intent behind gibberish, jokes and lies. Though she seems cheerful enough, there is something of a trickster about her. Occasionally her heartless behaviour can uncover great truths.”

Break Soul: Spell Absorber

“If Magilou uses this while an enemy is casting, she can cancel the enemy’s action. At the same time, she can absorb the enemy’s mana and when she has saved a certain amount of mana, she can execute a counter arte. When there are enemies using magic artes, her Break Soul is vital. Spell Absorber can cancel the castings of all surrounding enemies in range when it is executed!

Magilou has multiple counter artes but it depends on her mood which one is performed.”

Eizen

Gender: MaleAge: 1,000 years old (his appearance is of a 30 year old)Height: 187cmWeapon: BraceletTribe: Malak

“Eizen, nicknamed “The Reaper”, is the skipper of Aifread’s pirates and he always makes his own decisions. Though he is a Malak (a spiritual being that can harness the power of nature), he sails the Van Eltia pirate ship on the open seas to follow his own creed. While looking for the missing Captain Van Aifread, he meets Velvet and joins her to fight their common enemy, the Abbey. His immense knowledge and experience of surviving the underworld will greatly help Velvet in her quest for revenge.”

Break Soul: Draconic Drive

“This ability can deal high damage by spewing flames from the air and consuming the enemies around.

The required condition to execute this Break Soul is more difficult than the other characters but its strength is overwhelming.

This can be executed even if a non-targeted enemy is stunned or down, so pay attention to the other enemies on the field to gain the chance to use Eizen’s Break Soul.”